Ash smelter



Sept. 4, 1934. A. w. IWAERN ASQH SMELTER Filed NOV. 12

1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 attorney Sept. 4, 1934.

1A. w. WAERN 1,972,116

ASH SHELTER I Filed Nov. 12. 1932 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi P .20 26 I3nventor WWWM Gttomeg Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES A N FIC1,972,116 ASH SMELTER Adolph w.- Waern, Manistee, Mich. ApplicationNovemberlZ, 1932, Serial No. 642,351

4 Claims. (01. 23-277) 7 This invention relates to smelters for ignitingand removing theorganic content of black ash and the like.

The invention comprises a novel structure in which combustion of theblack ash is maintained within the confines of a complete independentvapor-raising apparatus or boiler. The boiler is arranged in such amanner that considerable portions of its heating surface can see thefire and accept heat therefrom not only by conduction and convection butalso by radiation. The boiler being so arranged accepts heat from thesmelting ash atsuch rates that favorable temperatures are maintainedwith the greatestease. The'appara 15 tus of this invention not onlyprovides'means for excellent control of operating conditions, but alsoconverts the heat absorbed in controlling the process into vapor underpressure which may be devoted to superior power uses. The recovery ofmineral substances employed in paper-making processes is an importantmatter in the economy of the pulp industry. Waste liquors from thesulfate and soda processes, for example, have long been evaporated todryness and the dried material ignited to separate therefroni themineral constituents usually in a molten state. The recovered mineralconstituents upon proper subsequent treatment are rendered fit forre-use.

' The ignition step has been performed in the apparatus known as asmelter. The smelters heretofore used, however, are open to someobjection and it is the purpose of this invention to dispense with theundesirable features thereof.

One of the chief objections in many v of the refractory linings whichwill withstand the erosion of the fire and the 'effect of the highlyalkaline salts involved in the treatment have not been available. Manyattempts have been made and some are'nowin use for prolongingthe life ofsmelterlinings. In some of these a refractory layer is backed by acirculating layer of airfor the purpose of keeping the liningjbelow adanger ous temperature. In others cooling water is circulated in muchthe same manner with the same purpose; In many of these methods the heatremoved from the walls is either rejected or devoted to inferior uses. a

In the smelter of this invention portions of the interior constitutingpart of the heat-accepting surfaces of the boiler are devoid ofrefractory material, in the common sense of the word, and in thisportion of' the smelter the refractory lining problem is completelyeliminated. Not only is the smelter of this invention cheaper tomaintainsmelters now in'useis that entirely satisfactory with respect to itslining, but at the same time the heat absorbed is converted into a steamat useful pressure. Although the smelter of this invention isparticularly adapted for use in the treatment of the ash produced by theevaporation of the waste liquors of the sulphate and soda paperprocesses any combustible solid or semi-solid material having a mineralcontent maybe treated.

The smelter of this invention is bestdescribed by reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein 1 1 I I Fig. 1 is a side sectional View ofthe smelter;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the smelter, part of the jacket being brokenaway.

The smelter of this invention, as shown in Fig. 1, is mounted-uponasuitable support 1. Firmly seated upon support 1 and inside of thesmelter'is the crucible 2, made of refractory material. The

crucible 2 is provided with wall portions 3, a spoutportion 4 anda baseportion 5. Standing upon base 1 and embracing the wall portions 3 of thecrucible and extending upwardly is the tube bank 6. Forming-the meansfor communication for the bottom of the tube bank is the header 7. Thetube bank 6 extending upwardly converges into a flat throat 9 and thencereaches upwardly to a connection with the vapor drum 10. On one side ofthe flat throat 9 an aperture 11 is provided by joining a part of thetubes of bank 6 to manifold 12, which in turn communicates with thevapordrumlO through leaders. 18. I

Completely enclosing tube bank 6 is the mantle 13, the purposes ofwhichare to form a gas-tight enclosure outside of bank 6 and to insulateagainst H the loss of heat. Any suitable materialmay be used for thispurpose, most of the common refractory materials serving well. Themantle 13 is backed and supported by a steel shell 14 which is separateda short distance from the mantle to provide for expansion. The expansionspace is filled with any suitable resilient refractory 15, such asasbestos or powdered diatomaceous earth, It is pointed out as a matterof importance that the bank 6' is not entirely hidden by a lining; butthat'a' goodly part of each tube can see the interior of the smelter. Yr 1 From'the vapor drum 10 downc'omer's 17 are provided, whichcommunicate with the header 7 at the base of the smelter to providemeans for facilitating circulation. Feed water may be introduced in thelower part of one of these downcomers at 21 or in any other appropriateplace. Vapor is removed from the top ofthe vapor drum at 20.

The blast is directed into the smelter in the vicinity of the uppercentral portion of the crucible 2 through the nozzles or blow-pipes 22.The nozzles or blow-pipes 22 may advantageously be water-cooled.

As clearly indicated in Fig. 2, aperture 11 is circular in shape. Thepurpose of this aperture'is to accommodate the discharge end of aconventional rotary drum incinerator, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1. The construction of the drum and of the juncture between drumand smelter is noypart of this invention, being similar in constructionto means Well known in the art.

Under many conditions of operation, blasting of the smelter producescombustible gas in the nature of producer gas. Air for combustion orthis gas may be introduced in thethrqatQ and-for this purpose doors 16are provided for the entrance of air. By regulation of doors 1 6 theflame maybe caused to extend far into subsequent equipment. In additionto doors 16 air ports 23 are provided between the-tubes .in'the lowerpart of throat 9. The air ports are provided. with adjustable doors 24to permit the regulation of the air admitted.

In addition to the air ports 23 and the doors 16 it is sometimesconvenient also to provide poke holes 25 closed by doors 27. If it isintended to employ poke h01es25 foranything other than inspection andregulation oft-he fire, the tubes may be appropriately deflected topermit the charging of material or chemicals. In fact the smelter ofthis invention may be so constructed that it may be operated asahand-fired or conveyor-fired smelter in which the aperture ll is closedand occupied bytubes, all charging-then being accomplished-throughopenings, such as poke holes 25. A construction suchas above describedof course does not'require abroad, flat throat 9 such aswill accommodatethe large circular aperture 11 and in such case the throat 9 will becomeamere vertical extension of the lower part of the smelter.

' Inoperating the smelter-of :this invention .or-. ganic materialcontaining mineral substance is charged through aperture 11.Combustion-of the organic material is established by introducing ablastof air through the nozzles .or blow-pipes 22. Blasting and charging ofmaterial are then continued at rates which will maintain a substantiallyconstant depth of burning material. :While this is taking place thetemperature is controlled by the boiler and useful vapor is delivered todrum 10.- As the materialjis consumed the mineral constituents arereleased and due to the heat ofthe reactionthey are delivered in moltencondition to the crucible 2. From time to time or continuously of thisinvention, has been clearly indicated; in

certain specific cases, itis not intended that the protection of LettersPatent be limited thereby, but that the protection afforded hereunderembrace the full spiritof the invention as represented I by the appendedclaims.

I tures, the combination comprising a crucible, meanstfor introducing ablast in the vicinity of said crucible, a mantel surrounding saidcrucible and extending above the same, an opening into said mantel abovethe crucible for the introduction of material to be treated and the exitof products of combustion, a tube bank within said mantel'and extendingdownwardly between the exterior of said crucible and the interior ofizlziev lower part of said mantel, means for introducing,

vaporizable fluid to said tube bank, and means for removing. vaportherefrom.

3 In a combined self-contained vapor generatorand smelter for organic,inorganic mixtures, the combination comprisinga .oruc-ible, means forintroducing a blast in the vicinityof said crucible, a mantelsurrounding said crucible and extending above the same, an opening intosaid mantel above the .crucibleior the introduction .of ma-e terialto betreated and the exitct products nf, combustion,.-a tube bank withinsaid. mantel p0nsisting-of vertically standing tubes a d extendingdownwardly between the exteriorot said crucible and the interior of, thelower part ,of said mantel, means for establishing.com-municationibetween the bottoms of said tubes, a vapor drumccammlmieating with andjoining the tops of said tubes, means forintroducing feed-water, andmeans-for the removal of steam fromsaid'steamjdrum.

4. In a smelter fororganiq inorganictm-ixtures tloe combinationcomprising. a cruciblehaving an outlet, .2. mantel surroundingsaidcr-ucihle and extending above the same m eans for introducing ablast of air in the vicinity-of said crucible, an aperture in the top ofsaid mantel for the introduction of material .to be treated and the exitof products .of combustion, a tube banhof vertically standing, tubeswithin said extending .downwa rdly between the exterior at said crucibleand the interior of-the-lower part of said mantel, means forestablishing communication between thelbottorns of said tubes, .asteamdrum in communication with figi-ning thetops of said tubes, .downcome'rscommunicating with said steam drum andconnecting municatio'nmeans at thebottom of saidtnbes completing a boiler Iencldsur'e, means forthe introduction of vaporizable fluid, to said boiler len closure, andmeansror the removalofvapor from said steam drum, the whole forming acombined self-contained vapor generator and smelting mg, nace. ADQLPHIll-0

